Load transfer apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for transferring a load from a shoulder of a user has a rod extending from above a shoulder to receive a load and extends to engage a support member on a hip of a user. A second rod, disposed above an opposite shoulder of a user, extends into engagement with a support on the same or opposite hip of the user. Other rod arrangements are provided.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The carrying of significant loads on shoulders of persons impose forces on their shoulders, vertebrae, backs and other structures.

[0002] Persons having ailments or problems with shoulder structures or tissues, back ailments, vertebrae problems, etc., suffer difficulties in or are precluded from carrying significant or heavy loads on one or both shoulders.

[0003] Adequate devices or arrangements have heretofore not been provided to adequately address the problems of transferring shoulder loads to other portions of a person's body, such as the hips.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 796,589 to Maloney relates to an arrangement wherein a load above a shoulder of a person is imposed on a belt depended from an arch member. Such arrangement cannot adequately transfer substantial load from the shoulder to another portion of a user's body, such as a hip.

[0005] The present invention provides a load transfer apparatus wherein a substantially rigid rod extends from above a shoulder of a user to receive a load and extends into engagement with a support member at a hip of the user. Load applied at the shoulder of the user is thus transferred to the hip of the user. A second relatively rigid rod extends above the shoulder of the user and extends diagonally across the back of the user into engagement with a second support member at an opposite hip of the user. A belt about the waist of the user may be utilized to retain a support member.

[0006] In one embodiment, a third relatively rigid rod extends over a shoulder opposite from that on which the first rod extends, and extends diagonally across the back of the user into engagement with a support member at the second hip of the users The rods in different forms of the invention terminate near the shoulders of the user, rather than extending downwardly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the invention disposed on a person;

[0008]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another form of the invention wherein two support members are utilized;

[0009]FIG. 3 is a view taken at 3-3 in FIG. 2;

[0010]FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a support member utilized with the invention;

[0011]FIG. 5 is a side view of a support member having a hook;

[0012]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the apparatus of FIG. 1 disposed on a person;

[0013]FIG. 7 is a perspective rear view of another form of the apparatus;

[0014]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment having multiple support rods;

[0015]FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of a modified form of the invention wherein rod members have loop end portions disposed about belts on support members;

[0016]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a form of the invention showing four support rods with loop portions extending over the shoulder of a user and terminating; and

[0017]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention wherein rod members extend above the shoulder where they are joined and terminate.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the load-transfer device of the invention 10 wherein a brace rod 12 extends over the shoulder of a user with a “plate” 14 mounted thereon to support a load-member, such as a strap of a mail pouch. The rod 12 extends over the shoulder of the user and downwardly with a rear portion 16 to form a loop extending about the shoulder and downwardly at the front and back into a joint connection in a block member 18, wherein a threaded bolt member 20 is threaded. The bolt member has an eye or loop 22 at its opposite end which is received in a pocket or recess 24 in a metal plate 26 which is secured by fasteners to a leather pad 28. A second rigid bar 30 has a curved portion 32 to extend over the shoulder of the user, and the bar 30 extends across the back of the user, and has a threaded eye portion 34 at its end for adjustable threaded engagement with a bolt 36 having an eye or loop portion 38 at its end received in a pocket (not shown) of a leather pad 40 which is similar to pad 28. The threaded engagement of the bolt members 20 and 36 provide for adjustment of the extension of the rods 12 and 16 for a particular user. The pads and the metal plates thereon are preferably contoured to fit the contours of the hips of a user.

[0019] With the loop extending over one shoulder of a user and with a second loop extending over the shoulder and across the user's back, more than 20% of the load applied at the upper portions of the loops is applied at bolt 36 and pad 40, the remainder being applied at bolts 20 and pads 28.

[0020] A belt 42 is preferably utilized to assist in retaining components and pads 40 in desired positions, particularly when unloaded. The belt may extend through slits 44, 46 in the leather pad 40 or hooks 48 may be provided on each pad in engagement with the belt for support (FIG. 5). A strap 50 (FIG. 1) is preferably provided to extend about the user above the belt, and is secured at the front and rear portions of the loop 12, 16 to stabilize the components on the person.

[0021] In a modified arrangement (not shown), belt 40 can be extended through the loops 22 of the threaded bolts 20 for somewhat improved load support.

[0022] Portions of the rods 12, 16 are preferably covered with padding, enclosed in nylon sleeves, portions of which are shown at 52 in FIG. 2, thus to provide comfortable engagement with the person of the user to protect the skin from abrasion or other injury, and to prevent clothing damage.

[0023] In utilizing the apparatus of the invention, load applied at plate 14 is transmitted or transferred via the rods 12, 16 and bolts 20, 36 to bags 28, 40, thus to apply the load to the person's upper hip, the pads and the metal plates 22 preferably contoured for optimum engagement with the upper hip portion of the person. Load applied at load plate 14 above the shoulder is thus transferred from the shoulder area to the hips of the user, substantially eliminating load on the shoulder.

[0024]FIG. 7 illustrates a modified form of the apparatus wherein load is applied at load plates 52, 54 atop rods 56, 58 which extend from the left shoulder of the user downwardly and across the back of the user to engage in pads at the user's hips as above described.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 6, a modified form of the apparatus of the invention is shown as comprising a single loop rod 60 which has a curved portion extending over the shoulder and terminating at 62, with the front portion of the rod 60 extending to engage a threaded bolt and to transfer the load to a pad 64. This form of the apparatus is useful for limited loads and is simpler to utilize on the person.

[0026] In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 8, rods 66, 68 extend over and about the respective left and right shoulders of the user and are secured in the manner indicated in FIG. 3 with a block in which bolts with loop ends are contained in pads 70, 72 to support the load at the hips of the user. A second pair of rods 74, 76 also extend over each shoulder and have back portions extending diagonally across the back of the user in the manner of rod 30, as shown in FIG. 2 to illustrate the earlier described embodiment, and applies load transferred from the shoulder's areas to pads 70, 72.

[0027] This embodiment is particularly useful for persons carrying substantial loads on each shoulder or otherwise carrying heavy loads, such as heavy backpacks, military loads, etc.

[0028] The apparatus and embodiment shown in FIG. 8 may employ a modified arrangement shown in FIG. 9 wherein the back portions of rods 74, 76 are provided with end loop portions which are disposed about bolts into portions 78, 80—are disposed about bolts 82, 84, as shown, thus to transmit load via the bolts to pads 70, 72 at the hips of the user.

[0029] The embodiment shown in FIG. 9 employs a modified arrangement wherein the back portions of rods 74, 76 are provided with end loop portions 78, 80 disposed about bolts 82, 84, as shown, thus to transmit load via these bolts to pads 70, 72 (FIG. 8) at the hips of the user. In this arrangement, the load is divided about equally between the two sides of the user.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 10, two rods 86, 88 extend up from respective block members of the type described relative to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 and upwardly with arcuate portions 90, 92 extending over the shoulders of the user and terminating just over the shoulders.

[0031] A second pair of rods extends from the block members at opposite sides of the user, and diagonally across the back of the user and have arcuate portions (not shown) secured to the arcuate portions 90, 92 of rods 88, 86 as shown, the end portions of the rods 94, 96 are arcuate and terminate just over the shoulders of the user.

[0032]FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment wherein a rod 100 is adapted to extend upwards at the left side of a user and has an arcuate end portions 102 extending over the shoulder, then terminating. A second rod 104 is secured at the opposite side of the user and extends diagonally across the back of the user and is joined at its curved end portion 106 to the curved end portion 102.

[0033] The invention is of substantial assistance to persons having ailments of the back or shoulders by eliminating loads imposed on a back, vertebrae and shoulders. The apparatus of the invention is very useful to persons carrying substantial loads of heavy objects daily, such as postal carriers, construction workers, back packers, students with heavy bookbags, etc.

[0034] There have been shown and described embodiments of a load transfer apparatus which fulfill all the objects and advantages sought therefor. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the subject invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this specification together with the accompanying drawings and claims. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow. 

The inventor claims:
 1. A load transfer apparatus comprising: a support member adapted to be supported on a hip of a user, a substantially rigid rod extending from above a shoulder of a user to receive a load, said rod extending to engage the support member, and whereby a load applied at said shoulder of the user is transferred to a hip of the user.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, and further including: a second relatively rigid rod extending above said shoulder of the user and extending diagonally across the back of the user, and a second support member disposed at an opposite second hip of the user to receive the second rod, whereby load applied at the shoulder is transferred to both hips of the user.
 3. A load transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said rod is of generally arcuate loop configuration and extends above said shoulder of the user and having a front portion extending at the front of the user and a back portion extending at the back of the user into engagement with said support member.
 4. A load transfer apparatus according to claim 1, and further including: a belt disposed about the waist of the user to retain said support member.
 5. A load transfer apparatus according to claim 2, and further including: a belt disposed about the waist of the user to retain said support member.
 6. A load transfer apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: said support members are retained on said belt by extension of the belt through slits in the support members.
 7. A load transfer apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: said support members are retained on said belt by extension of the belt through slits in the support members.
 8. A load transfer apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: said support members are retained by hooks thereon in engagement with said belt.
 9. A load transfer apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: said support members are retained by hooks thereon in engagement with said belt.
 10. A load transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said support member comprises a substantially rigid member adapted and configured to engage a hip of the user.
 11. A load transfer apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: said support members comprise substantially rigid members adapted and configured to engage the hips of the user.
 12. A load transfer apparatus comprising: a support member adapted to be supported on a hip of a user, a substantially rigid rod extending from above a shoulder of a user to receive a load, said rod extending to engage the support member, a second relatively rigid rod extending above said shoulder of the user and extending diagonally across the back of the user, a second support member disposed at an opposite second hip of the user to receive the second rod, and a third relatively rigid rod extending over an opposite second shoulder of the user and extending diagonally across the back of the user into engagement with the support member at said second hip of the user, whereby load applied at the shoulder is transferred to both hips of the user.
 13. A load transfer apparatus comprising: a support member adapted to be supported on a hip of a user, a substantially rigid rod extending from above a shoulder of a user to receive a load, said rod extending to engage the support member, a second relatively rigid rod extending above said shoulder of the user and extending diagonally across the back of the user, and a second support member disposed at an opposite second hip of the user to receive the second rod, said first and second rods having arcuate portions extending over respective shoulders of the user and terminating with end portions near the respective shoulders, whereby load applied at the shoulder is transferred to both hips of the user. 